MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A traffic stop for speeding became a drug bust after deputies pulled over an undocumented man who was allegedly high on meth and had more than 31,000 illegal pills inside his vehicle. When speaking with deputies, he allegedly said he was “just doing his job.”
According to the
Martin County Sheriff's Office, deputies pulled over Zolton Otto Ganoczi on Monday for speeding. An arrest report states the stop happened on Interstate 95 near the 107mile marker after deputies observed a black Jeep Grand Cherokee weaving through traffic and traveling at speeds estimated up to 85 miles per hour. During their investigation, deputies learned Ganoczi had a suspended driver's license in both New York and Florida, which led to his arrest.
Deputies also said they observed signs of impairment during their interaction with Ganoczi, 36, including profuse sweating, rapid speech, a stutter and dilated pupils. Deputies later conducted a breath test, which showed no alcohol in his system. As law enforcement searched the vehicle, they found a baggie containing methamphetamine in the driver's side door. Deputies said Ganoczi admitted to using methamphetamine earlier in the day and consuming psilocybin mushroom gummies.
Investigators also located a handwritten ledger inside the vehicle containing multiple names, numbers and abbreviated labels, along with several rubber bands and suspected psilocybin mushroom gummies. Deputies said the items were consistent with drug distribution activity.
A further search of the vehicle led deputies to uncover more than 31,000 pills concealed inside envelopes hidden in a container in the trunk. The container was described as a large black storage bin with a yellow lid holding several sealed, postalstyle packages that lacked shipping labels or recipient information. Deputies said the packages were tightly bundled, and one package was labeled “Lunata,” which matched an abbreviated name listed in the handwritten ledger.
The pills included Ambien, Rivotril, Lunesta and other drugs associated with Diazepam, Klonopin and Xanax. According to deputies, the way the pills were grouped, bundled with rubber bands and packaged in plastic baggies suggested they were intended for distribution to multiple recipients.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said the pills fall under the category of depressants known as benzodiazepines or "benzos"
“It’s a lot of pills I mean so these are benzodiazepines," Budensiek said. "They don’t quite get into the category of opioids, but if not taking correctly, mix with alcohol mixed with opioids, that can be extremely deadly.”
Ganoczi faces charges including unlawful speed, DUI, possession of a controlled substance, driving with a suspended license and possession with intent to sell and deliver a controlled substance.
Additional arrest paperwork shows deputies seized his cellphone and towed the vehicle. During a consent search of the phone, deputies said GPS data showed the suspect was traveling toward Port Orange and that communications related to the drug delivery were made through text messages.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Ganoczi told deputies he was “just the driver” and said he picked up the container in Miami and was traveling to Daytona Beach to leave it in a parking lot. He allegedly told investigators he was to be paid approximately $70 through a wire transfer after completing the delivery and admitted he had made two or three similar trips in the past.
“A lot of times you’ll see guys like him being used as a mule," Budensiek said. "This is probably what this was actually so you have the organized guys on the shipping in the organized guys in receiving and then you get the guy in the middle. That’s not as thoughtful. That’s taking the risk and they were the ones I get arrested.”